Disclaimer: I do not own Mai HiME/OTOME because if I do then I will not include Tate, Sergay and Takeda in that anime series! Nor will I include them in the manga, they’re just a waist of ink and effort! (Title used without permission from a Chinese movie. I am not going to gain money from this so please don’t sue…why I didn’t do this in my other story?)
Summary: AU Shiznat. Natsuki is the sole heir to the Kuga Corporation, she is a spoiled brat with a motto “What Natsuki wants, Natsuki gets” and her favorite past time is hunting along with her rich friends Chie Harada, Yuuki Nao and Tokiha Mai.
Shizuru is the great white wolf’s ‘daughter’ and a friend of Mikoto who is an outsider to the Hime tribe. Mikoto acts as Shizuru’s mentor in almost everything, they would go out of the wild to hunt or just to play.
Both world will collide when Natsuki’s friends captured two wild ‘beasts’ and presented it as a gift to the spoiled heir.
A/N: Hello again!! Another Mai Hime X Otome story from me though an AU this time. So if the characters are OOC, it is justified! I can’t focus on my first two Hime and my KIGO stories so I decided to start this one. Actually the plot of this story has been planned already but I wanted to write it after finishing The Gift, but since my mind was so out of it, I said to myself…”why not write another, you might find the muse to write the older ones while writing a new one!”, heh…at least this is not a case of a serious writer’s block. So Here it is… and as a warning…this is rated M and for Alyssa/Miyu fanatics, no Alyssa here. I guess you all know by now who I wanted to be with Nao.
Note: Words and sentences in bold letters are said in a different language supposed to be, but since I do not want to use my own language (as I am sure I have to translate it into English and that will make my work twice as hard), so I’ll just do it like this.
Wolf Devil Woman
Chapter 1
The early morning sun, the melodious and happy singing of the birds, the sounds of leaves swaying with the wind and the sound of laughter’s coming from two females greeted the quiet and peaceful life of the HiMEs.
Elder Maria shook her head as she watched the two young women run to and fro, the two were playing tag but it was the taller one who seems to have to chase the smaller one every time.
Viola is currently pounding on an unhusked rice grain, she was smiling and was humming a tune (she was humming the tune of Magtanim ay di biro planting is no joke is the literal translation). Viola was the wife of the tribe’s chief gallantly called The Great White Wolf Kruger. The marriage of the two HiMEs begets two daughters, Nina and Arika, born as fraternal twins. Before even Viola married the great Chief, the great hunter found a small child surrounded by wolves in a nearby forest, the child which the hunter thought to be just about a year and few months old was lying under a dead shewolf, the child was covered in blood and was crying wildly. Kruger learned from inspection that the wolf was killed by hunters and was probably trying to protect the human child. The presence of the other wolves probably saved the child from them, so she decided to bring the child back with her to the village and finally adopted the child and named her Shizuru.
Shizuru, although adopted grew up to be like Viola, she was liked by almost everyone in the village especially the young ones, but she kept her distance and aloofness. It wasn’t unknown to her that her Nay (Kruger) adopted her and that Arika and Nina weren’t her real sisters. At first she asked questions about her real family, but the lack of knowledge depressed the young HiME, so she decided to just let the question go and live her life. She had no friends until Mikoto came to their village. Mikoto was a hunter from another tribe, she was found floating on the lake by a group of HiME hunters and they learned later on that their village was burned down and no one survived aside from her.
Probably it was Mikoto’s situation that made Shizuru opened up to the young hunter. Both of them were strangers to the tribe and yet were now considered as one. It seems that Mikoto’s tribe was more modernized especially in their way of hunting, so when the young hunter recovered, she decided to mentor Shizuru with everything she knew, from fighting, to hunting, cooking and even sewing clothes. In return, Shizuru thought Mikoto everything she knows about life as a HiME and even thought the younger hunter how to read and write the HiME way.
“It was a blessing that young Mikoto came to our village.” Elder Maria said, she had her head turned so that she is facing Viola.
“Yes, Mikoto did Shizuru a favor.” Viola responded without stopping, “She could even cook now.” She added and then laughed.
Elder Maria laughed with Viola and nodded her head, “Kruger must be very happy.”
“Oh she is!” Viola stopped pounding and started gathering the pounded rice, “But I think her sisters Arika and Nina were getting jealous of Mikoto for taking away their Ate.” (Pronounce as A’te which is the equivalent of onee-sama)
“Young ones! They’ve always vied for Shizuru’s attention, sometimes I wonder if the poor young woman is already thinking of running away from here.” Elder Maria said and then she followed it with a laugh.
Silence.
“It has been 18 years Miss Maria.” Viola recalled.
“Hasn’t Shizuru found a suitable HiMe to mate with?” the older woman asked.
Viola sighed, “Kruger was wondering why Shizuru kept on forestalling her announcement of her mate. Tomoe is a very good girl, she is also a very good hunter.” Viola watched as elder Maria nodded her head, “And Tomoe is deeply in love with Shizuru.”
Elder Maria smiled, “Perhaps if Mikoto would state her interest with Shizuru, then there will be no more problem.”
Viola smiled at the older woman’s suggestion, “Perhaps I could ask Kruger to have a contest and the winner will get Shizuru’s hand in marriage.”
The older HiME looked at Viola and smiled, “I think that will be a good idea, although I am sure that if we allow Mikoto to join then it will be a race between Mikoto and Tomoe.”
“So who among the two is the better hunter?” Viola thought of Mikoto and Tomoe competing head on, “It would be a very exciting competition.”
“And Shizuru won’t be able to decline whoever wins this contest.” Maria added with a grin which was mirrored by Viola.
XXX
“Ohayoo Natsuki ojou-sama!” Yuuki Nao purred, the red headed girl was leaning an arm on the baluster of the mansion’s elegant twin staircase.
Natsuki frowned at the greeting; she was halfway from completing the many steps of the stairs and Nao’s grinning face greeted her still hazy brain, “Baka,” she cussed, “I don’t think my morning will be considered good if I am greeted by you, besides what brought you here at this very early hour in the morning?”
Nao pouted, “Oi! You should know that I am here to be the first one to greet ojou-sama a very happy birthday!” Nao reasoned.
“Baka! It’s not yet my birthday, it’s still tomorrow!” Natsuki finally landed on the ground floor and then she walked passed the red headed young woman and started her way to the mansion’s dining area.
“I know!” Nao exclaimed as she followed the blue haired woman to the dining area, “I am still the earliest! A day early is it not?” she said and then she followed it with a laugh.
Natsuki frowned and waved her hand on the air, “Whatever,”
“Besides, the real reason I am here is because Harada and Tokiha agreed to meet here before going out on a hunting trip.” Nao said smiling; the red head knew that her friend Natsuki loved to go out on a hunting trip, something the blue haired young woman got from her late father.
Natsuki turned around and face Nao, “So what time will you be meeting Tokiha and Harada?”
“I’m guessing the two will be barging at your front door in 5…4…3…2…” Nao made the countdown as Natsuki who stopped just at the entrance of the dining area looked at their front door.
“Now…” Nao said with her brows raised up.
“HAPPY BIRTH DAY NATSUKI!!” the sudden noise was brought about by Harada Chie and Tokiha Mai barged in. The taller woman had an arm around the fiery haired girl’s shoulder and her other arm was raised up and waving.
“HARADA! TOKIHA!” Natsuki screamed and laughed loudly, “It’s not my birthday yet!”
“We know!” Chie said grinning, “But we want to celebrate it early by hunting!”
Their merry early morning conversation was interrupted by a loud coughing sound, “Ahrm!”
The four young women looked at where the sound was coming and they smiled at the older woman at the middle of the elegant stair, the woman was the older version of Natsuki and no one will make a mistake about her being Natsuki’s mother, “Saeko-sama!” Chie, Nao and Mai exclaimed together.
“I hope I heard wrong that you three were taking my princess out for hunting today.”
“Hahaha!” Chie nervously laughed, “I think you heard right Saeko-sama, since tomorrow is Natsuki’s birthday, we are here to take her out to hunt.”
Saeko shook her head, “This place’s forest is already dying, stop killing it!” Saeko lightly scolded the younger women. She was already by Natsuki’s side when she spoke again, “I really have no qualms whether you lot go on hunting or not, but I am not going to allow my Natsuki to leave this house at the moment.”
Natsuki’s eyes widened, “Mother!” she exclaimed, “Why? Tomorrow is my birthday so why can’t I go with them to hunt today?!” she wailed.
Saeko pinched Natsuki’s cheeks causing the younger woman to blush, “Because your poor old mother is going to stay home to prepare tomorrow’s banquet and I want my Natsuki to be here with me to witness and take part in the preparation!”
“But Fumi and Miyu can do that already!”
“Natsuki?” Saeko glared at her daughter, “It is true that Fumi and Miyu could help me prepare everything, but it’s different if you’re here to put in your own two cents. Besides this is your 18th birthday celebration.”
“Ha! The Ice princess will finally be a well mannered lady tomorrow!” Nao teased causing Natsuki to redden and fume.
“Nao…” the blue haired princess growled.
“And Natsuki will be choosing amongst the many suitors she have tomorrow!” Mai added causing Natsuki’s frown deepened.
Chie was about to pitch in her two cents when Natsuki glared at her evilly. The taller young woman decided to keep her mouth shut and just shrugged her shoulders. Chie’s action was rewarded by a slight nod from Natsuki.
“First of all, tomorrow will be just a formal gathering for mother’s honorable guests. I have no interest in entertaining any of those stupid men pining over me.” Natsuki said with a tone of finality.
“And I thought I’ll be giving your hand out tomorrow Natsuki.” Saeko teased before placing a kiss on the younger woman’s cheek and then she walked passed the youngsters and headed to the dining area, “Breakfast is waiting, I’m sure Chie-san, Nao-san and Mai-san are ready for breakfast?”
“Always!” the three answered together, Natsuki shook her head as she followed her friends to the dining area.
“Isn’t Kanzaki coming over tomorrow to ask for Natsuki’s hand in marriage?” Chie asked. The other young women frowned and looked at Chie.
“Where did you get that news?” Mai asked.
“I was at Aoi’s place yesterday and she told me about it.” Chie replied.
“Oh…” the three nodded their heads, “No one will beat Aoi-chan when it comes to gossip!” Mai exclaimed.
“Hey it wasn’t gossip!” Chie defended.
“Besides, if ever Reito will ask someone’s hand in marriage, it won’t be my hand but Mai’s!” Natsuki said grinning and Mai’e eyes widened in shock.
“Eww!” Mai said then shivered.
“You four!” Saeko interrupted, “Stop arguing, the food will get cold if we don’t start eating now.”
“Itadakimas!” everyone chanted before they dig in.
Chie and Mai giggled when Miyu put Nao’s food on her table and Nao’s face reddened. The two women were given death glares by Nao. Natsuki saw this but, being a very dense woman didn’t get why Nao suddenly blushed and death glared Chie and Mai. Saeko was just watching Nao silently with a sweet smile pasted on her face.
XXX
“Did you hear?” Mikoto was sitting on a bench made from bamboo, beside her was Shizuru. The two women just finished running around playing.
“Hear what?” Shizuru asked smiling.
“Miya told me that she heard your mother talking with Miss Maria, and they were talking about a competition.” Mikoto replied, she was swinging her legs back and forth, her hands were clasped together and were resting on her own lap.
“Competition about what?”
“I think Miya heard them talking about hunting competition.”
Shizuru looked at Mikoto and then she started giggling, “I am sure you will be in this competition Mikoto-chan! And I’m sure you’ll win too.”
Instead of her expected reaction from the younger and smaller woman, Mikoto slumps her shoulders, “I don’t think I want to be part of this competition.” She sadly replied.
Shizuru frowned, “Why not? You’re the best hunter here. Are you not allowed to enter the competition?” Mikoto shook her head no to answer, “So what’s the problem if you’re allowed to get in the competition?”
Mikoto looked at Shizuru sadly, “You’re the prize.”
Shizuru didn’t understand Mikoto’s reply at first but after some time of pondering, she realized the implication of Mikoto’s words, “Ara? I am the prize?” she asked with wide eyes and Mikoto’s reply was a series of nods, “Ara…Nay didn’t tell me about this! I am not going to be a prize for a contest!” Shizuru exclaimed and then she stood and started trekking the road to their house.
“Shizuru! Don’t tell your Nay that I was the one who told you about it!!” Mikoto screamed though Shizuru did not made any action that indicated her she heard Kruger-san will probably kill me! Me and my big mouth! Mikoto thought before she stood up and made her way to her own house.
XXX
“NAAAAY!” Shizuru hollered once she got inside their house, “NAY!”
Kruger who heard the chestnut haired woman hollered for her went inside their house’ small living room, “Who died that you have to holler that loud Shizuru?” she asked, the great Chief was wearing a smile on her face despite her screaming.
“I heard about this contest and that I am the prize for the winner!” Shizuru said, her crimson orb that mirrors that of Viola was glaring at Kruger’s emerald ones.
Kruger decided to drop her angry pretense and laughed, “Shizuru! If you only looked at the mirror, you would have die laughing as well!” Kruger said in between pants. Shizuru did not fall for the bait though; instead she kept on glaring at her foster mother, “Okay-okay!” Kruger said after controlling herself, “It was a suggestion made by your mother, and I think it was a good idea.”
“WHAT?” Shizuru asked disgustedly, “How can an idea like that be considered good?”
“Look…”
“NO! I don’t want to have to do anything with it!” Shizuru screamed.
Kruger frowned and sighed, “LISTEN!” the chief screamed back causing Shizuru to stiffen. It was not everyday that she heard her Nay screamed at her, “I did say it was a good idea, but I am not going to do it without an alternative.” Kruger’s voice mellowed once she got her daughter’s attention, “I told your mother that it will be unfair to you, as I think that it will also be unfair to me, to your mother and to your sisters. I wouldn’t want to force you into marriage, but I also taken into consideration your mother’s point.”
“And mother’s point was?”
“That you’re already 18 and should have chosen a HiME to mate with. This is the right age to marry and have a family.” Kruger explained.
Shizuru frowned, “But I do not like to marry just because it’s the right age. I want to marry because I love the woman I am about to marry. I don’t want to look at marriage as something out of responsibility. I want to be in love…like you and mother!” Shizuru said, her eyes now with unshed tears.
Kruger’s heart cried out for her lovely eldest daughter, that though not hers and Viola’s took so much from her lovely wife. She stepped closer to Shizuru and enfolded the younger woman in her embrace, “I know, I fought my father until his death bed because I’ve thought of the same thing.” She said while rubbing Shizuru’s back to pacify the young woman, “I was thankful then that you and Viola arrived in my life. You do know that even though you’re not Viola’s own daughter, that your mother loves you very much right?” Kruger asked and smiled when she felt her daughter nods her head, “And you know that we will not do anything that will hurt you?” Shizuru nodded once again, “Then how about I give you the same thing my father gave me years ago?”
Shizuru pulled away slightly from her Nay’s embrace and looked at her face, “What is that?” Shizuru asked while she sniffed.
Kruger’s smile widened and before replying she placed a soft kiss on Shizuru’s forehead, “A Choice. I am going to give you 6 months from the day after your birthday to find the woman you wanted to marry, the competition will not happen if you find that woman provided…” Kruger looked at Shizuru, “Provided that the woman you wanted to marry agrees to marry you out of love and not out of responsibility.” Kruger said and then she pulled away, “Love should always work both ways. I cannot let you marry a woman who despite of your love will not return the same feelings. It’s just the same with marrying as a result of a competition.”
Shizuru made a thinking pose and smiled, “Ara, I will agree on that Nay, but my birthday will be tomorrow!”
“That’s why the day after tomorrow, I will start counting.”
Shizuru pouted but her pout didn’t last when she felt her younger sisters’ pound on her, followed by her mother’s happy embrace.
XXX
“So what are we looking at?” Mai asked Nao. The red headed woman has her eyes peeking on her binoculars. Chie, Mai and Nao decided to go hunting without Natsuki with the intention of finding something worth to give Natsuki as a birthday present.
“I was hoping to see a lost wolf; it would be a very good gift for Natsuki.” Nao said without looking at the fiery haired woman.
“What? You plan on hunting for a wolf and kill it for Natsuki?” Mai asked with wide eyes.
Nao took her eyes from the binoculars and looked at Mai with a frown on her face. Chie who heard the discussion leaned back to looked at Mai curiously, “Idiot!” Nao exclaimed before returning to her binoculars.
“HEY!” Mai said indignantly.
“Mai!” Chie interrupted smiling, “We aren’t here to kill a pup!” Chie explained.
“Ha? But you killed all the prey you hunted before?” Mai asked in bewilderment.
“That is because we only hunted for small animals like rabbits and snakes. We haven’t hunted for the bigger ones. Beside Natsuki will probably kill us if we give her a stuffed wolf.” Chie said laughing lightly.
“Yeah, We all know how Natsuki love wolves and dogs and…”
“Natsuki is a wolf herself!” Nao interrupted, “We brought tranquilizers with us instead of our usual ammo.” Nao said after putting the binoculars down, looked at Mai and grinned.
“Oh…” Mai nodded as she realized her mistake.
“So next time, before you jumped into conclusions and let your mouth run wild… think, you’ll never know what or who will trap that mouth of yours if you keep on doing that in the future.” Nao said looking at Mai mischievously.
“And what do you mean by that?” Mai asked frowning.
“We never know if that Kanzaki boy is the lucky captor of those red, luscious lips!” Nao teased.
“Baka!” Mai screamed at Nao and decided to leave the two in their activity, “I’ll go look for something to cook!”
“Mai! No poison Ivy please!” Chie screamed at the retreating busty woman.
Mai turned around, her face red, “That was just one time Harada! And it wasn’t intentional! Jeez!!” she huffed before she continued her trek. Chie and Nao laughed at Mai’s indignant reaction.
XXX
Shizuru’s nap time was interrupted by a shake on her shoulder. She slowly opened her eyes to see Arika’s smiling orbs looking at her, “I do hope that you woke me up due to an important…something?” Shizuru asked sternly, but she smiled at Arika.
“Mikoto is outside Ate, Nina and I called her first.” Arika explained and then her eyes darted from side to side as if making sure that no one is present to hear whatever it is that she wanted to say, and then she leaned forward and whispered, “We found something you might like to see.” She said and then pulled away from Shizuru.
Shizuru looked at her younger sister and smiled. She nodded her head and then stood up and followed the now retreating Arika. Ten minutes later she found herself following Arika and Nina, she was now walking side by side with Mikoto, “Ne Shizuru, what do you think your sisters found that they thought we’ll be interested with it?” Mikoto asked, the younger woman had no sign of worry in her face nor there was any hint of apprehension.
Shizuru shrugged her shoulders and followed her sisters quietly. Later in their walk, the chestnut haired woman started yawning, she stretched her arms sideward before speaking, “Where are you going to bring us?”
Nina and Arika stopped walking and crouched down, Shizuru and Mikoto did the same thing. They advanced from their place while on that position until they came to an aggregation of dried plants. Mikoto who was a very versed hunter knew at once that the dried plants were nothing but a camouflage for something. So she walked passed the three other females and started testing on the grounds before she pushed the plants away, “I think this is a trap. I can see the edge of a hole dug here.” she said. She looked around to find something she could use to eliminate all the plants without falling to the said trap, finding a long, thin branch; she picked it up and started removing the leaves with it.
Four sets of eyes widened when they saw an old part of an airplane. The said plane seemed to have crashed on that very site, and from the lack of skeletal remains, it could be deduced that there were no casualties or the dead humans could have been taken by wild carnivorous animals. The four looked at each other and silently agreed to go down the hole and inspect the inside of the plane. Mikoto tied a sturdy vine around a tree first before they proceeded.
Inside the broken machine were rusty metal things, probably things owned by whoever used it, so the four scoured the place trying to find something useful or something that will spark their interest. At the corner of the said ruin, Shizuru found piles of boxes. Curious, she went closer and tried opening it but it seemed that it was locked or the locked was jammed by too much rust in it. So she looked for a huge stone and tried breaking the locks. Arika, Nina and Mikoto saw Shizuru and the three women stepped closer to watch, Shizuru looked at the three to urge them to do the same on the other bags, and so they did. The four found lots of things inside, there were numerous dresses, almost all of it were deteriorating, probably from the rust that leaked out from the bags, probably it was due to the fact that it has been kept for so long and so they discarded it. They found other things like tobacco pipes which Nina and Mikoto took, there are jewelries too and Arika decided to keep it for their mother and nay, Shizuru found a necklace with a locket, she opened the locket to see a picture of a man and a woman, the man had raven hair, he looked like a prince of sort from his type of clothing, he was handsome too. When Mikoto looked at it she exclaimed that the man and Shizuru’s eyes were of the same color, the woman that was being embraced by the man has chestnut hair that looked like that of Shizuru, so Mikoto and Shizuru deduced that the two humans in the picture probably was related to her and so Shizuru decided to keep it and show it to her foster parents.
It was at this moment of contemplation when they heard a wolf pup cry in anguish followed by roars of wild animals.
“Hunters!” Arika screamed and looked at her companions.
“It’s probably hunters or that wolf is being cornered by bigger predators!” Mikoto said while frowning.
“Oh, Nay will be mad if that wolf pup died from a predator’s paws!” Nina added.
Shizuru frowned and looked far away, all of them knew how their Nay loved and protected the wild wolves in their place, and that is the reason the chief earned the title The Great White Wolf. It also seemed that their Nay could communicate with them, a trait Kruger passed onto her offspring, including Shizuru, “Then Mikoto and I will try to save the pup and you two must go back to the village and ask for help.” Shizuru decided.
“But we can help too!” Nina said frowning.
“No, we need more help, we will try to distract the beast if the predators are not hunters, if we run into a pack of predators then we will need more, and Nay and Mother will kill me if I let you two hunt with us even if you’re not yet ready!” Shizuru reasoned.
“But we are ready Ate!” Arika wailed.
“Okay, you two go back to the village first and ask for help then go back with them here and we will all hunt together how about that?” Mikoto suggested causing the two younger HiMEs to grin and nod.
Arika and Nina, with their treasure in their arms scurried back to the village, while Shizuru and Mikoto looked at each other and headed out to save the lone pup.
XXX
“Did you hear that?” Chie asked when she heard a loud crying coming from a wolf, “I think I heard a crying wolf!”
“Finally! I knew there are lots of wolves in this part of the forest.” Nao said grinning, “All we have to do is locate where that sound comes from and get that pup!”
“Good idea.” Chie said and then she look back at Mai who was preparing a table, “Mai, do you want to come with us to hunt for that pup or you’d rather stay here and wait for us?”
Mai frowned and then looked at Chei, “I’ll stay here and wait, I don’t want wild animals coming here and decide to eat my well done dishes!”
Nao laughed, “Oh Mai and her dishes! Don’t you dare go out without it!” Nao teased.
“Go on laugh, you think you could stay on the forest without my food? Go on laugh Nao! If I knew, you only kept me as your friend for this purpose!” Mai said, huffing.
Chie smiled and shook her head, “When Natsuki isn’t with us, you Mai replace her as Nao’s playmate ne?” Mai did not reply instead she huffed again and crossed her arms across her chest.
“Okay, we’re going now we hate to lose that pup!” Nao said and then turned her back on Mai and walked away, followed by Chie.
The two hunters were walking side by side, silently, a bit stealthily.
“Good thing we laid a trap somewhere.” Chie whispered to Nao which was answered by a nod of Nao’s head.
They continued on walking slowly until they could come closer with their trap. Ducking once they reached the bush that could hid them and watch their trap make a move…
XXX
Shizuru and Mikoto just arrived in time to save the hurt white wolf pup from the paws of three large hunting tigresses, Mikoto found a dried branch and started lighting it, when it ignited, she waved it on the three tigresses to halt their actions, Shizuru held the wolf pup in her arms while the pup kept on crying, probably from the pain it is suffering from it’s bleeding paw. Shizuru and Mikoto were also nursing some deep wound from fighting off the three tigresses, thanks to Mikoto’s quick thinking that they were able to push them off for a bit. One of Shizuru’s legs was hurt while Mikoto hurt one of her arms. The three preys were bleeding
“Shizuru, the torch is dying already, at the count of three you have run away from here as fast as you can.” Mikoto said without taking her eyes on the three predators.
“How about you?” Shizuru asked worriedly.
“I’ll follow! I am much faster than you remember, and I can out run these tigers and lose them!”
“Alright!” Shizuru agreed.
Mikoto started counting, at three Shizuru dashed out of their confinement and ran as fast as her wounded legs could go. She did not look back when she heard the wild roaring of the predators and Mikoto’s loud hunting sound “I have to save this pup!” Shizuru kept on saying in her mind as she ran until she disappeared from sight.
Mikoto on the other hand started running for her life, she wasn’t kidding when she said that she could outrun the tigers, she did. Due to the smell of fresh blood from her wound, the tigers decided to run after her, she took the part of the forest where trees almost touched each other and started bounding on them, followed by the drooling tigers. One advantage from her view point is that she could see the other part of the forest; hence she could see the running figure of Shizuru. She frowned when she saw Shizuru took another path away from her sight, “Damn!” Mikoto cussed at this.
XXX
Arika, Nina and a number of hunters from their village including Tomoe came at the sight of the crash and found no one there. SO the two young HiME lead the others to the place where they heard the sound to find dried blood on the ground, a piece of Shizuru and Mikoto’s clothes, also smeared with dried blood, a newly burned branch and trails of paws the hunters knew came from wild cats like lions or tigers.
Arika and Nina cried as they went along with Tomoe and the others to look for their Ate. Tomoe was enraged for losing her precious love.
XXX
Nao and Chie was sitting in a yoga position, their view was hindered by the bush where they were hiding. The two got bored waiting for the wolf pup to fall on their trap and decided to play cards while waiting. At the middle of their game they heard their trap make a swooshing sound telling them that they finally caught their prey. They hurriedly stand up leaving the cards on the ground, took their air gun and went out of their hiding place.
The two women’s eyes widened at what they saw inside their net.
“Well look at what we caught Harada…” Nao said grinning.
“I am sure…Kuga will be so pleased with our catch…” Harada said in a disbelieving tone. She waited for Nao to hold on to the rope and tightened it so that their catch won’t be able to escape, and then she took the airgun and aimed it at the rope above the net and fired.
XXX
Mikoto was busy losing the tigers and making her way to where Shizuru could have ran into when she heard a loud booming sound she suspected coming from human hunters. The sound of the gun caused the tigers to run back and away from Mikoto while Mikoto decided to go to where the sound originated from “Don’t be a fool and get caught Shizuru!” Mikoto said loudly to no one but air and dashed to where she heard the sound.
-end chapter 1-
A/N Thanks to weaver for being my beta. All my new works will be edited by her.